Sleigh-ride to King Harbor

J/30 3rd in Class & Fleet Overall!
(Santa Barbara, CA)- The 42nd running of the popular California offshore classic, the 81nm Santa Barbara to King Harbor Race, was truly the "tale of two cities" (the fast boats and the little boats).  The weather forecast seemed normal for the race, a light SSE breeze clocking around after the start to SW and slowly building into the WNW at 10-18 kts during the day and, perhaps, dying by evening.  Toss in plenty of sun, the spectacular seascapes of the Channel Islands, cute little brown seals swimming everywhere (great white shark lunch!) and amazing schools of porpoises ripping through schools of fish or racing underneath the bow wave and you have the ingredients for a near perfect downwind roller-coaster ride down the California coastline.

As has often been the case, what appeared to be a "normal" SB-KH race was nothing like the sort.  While the initial part of the race held true to form, the fleet starting under headsails then switching to mostly Code Zero's or reaching chutes to fetch Anacapa Island, what happened after that was not what the "playbook" was prescribing.  Getting to Anacapa Island's northern turning point is a bit like the "Looking Glass" in the Wizard of Oz or, as some have put it, "The Twilight Zone"-- one never knows what's beyond it once you've entered it.  Some say go tight along the western side of the island, others says go outside at least 1.5 to 3.0nm to avoid the inevitable wind-shadow cast by the 1,000 ft plus ridge on Anacapa.  Seeing little or no wind inside, most all the bigger boats (over 35 feet) set for an outside, longer course.  Some exceptions included the J/111, J/120 and others that magically shot the middle-left position and snuck through.  But, the smaller boats never had that issue as most simply turned left at the island, set chutes and sailed nearly direct to King Harbor at a bearing of 98 degrees! To confound the "local knowledge" experts even more, the anticipated "geographical shift" often found by sailing towards Point Dume just north of Malibu, not only happened (with the breeze shifting from 300 deg to 270 deg) but the wind kept backing around to 235 deg near the finish line at the entrance to King Harbor.

As a result, the big winners were the later, slower boats to start the race at 12:25pm.  The ocean greyhounds that took off first got the short end of the stick in this year's edition.  PHRF D class simply cleaned house in the Top 10 overall, with the J/30 FRICTION LOSS taking 3rd in class and 3rd overall while veteran Santa Barbarian offshore champion Larry Leveille sailed his famous J/29 RUSH STREET to 5th in class and 6th in fleet!  Good show for these teams!

Starting at the same time as PHRF D was PHRF C class, with the J/33 TIGGER sailed by Fred & Suzanne Cottrell taking class line honors and 2nd overall on handicap, 9th in fleet and 13th overall.

Also starting later and reaping the benefits was PHRF Sprit B class, which was mostly a "J/Navy"- 9 of 10 boats!  Leading the charge down south was Brian Kerr's J/92 DOUBLE DOWN, taking class and Sprit Fleet honors and 12th overall. Second in class, 2nd in Sprit fleet and 14th overall was the J/105 ARMIDA sailed by Tom Bollay.  Third in class, third Sprit fleet and 15th overall was another J/105-- TWELVE BAR BLUES skippered by Chuck Spear.  Rounding out the top five in class was the J/109 LINSTAR helmed by Len Bose and in 5th was Dan McGanty's J/105 AQUABELLA.

Sweeping the top two spots in a duel to the finish for PHRF Sprit A class were the J/111 and J/120.  In the end, while Bill Webster & Mike Moorhead's J/111 JATO took class line honors, the winner on handicap was Gary Winton's J/120 SHENANIGANS by nine minutes.  They both finished 5th and 6th, respectively in Sprit Fleet and 23rd and 25th overall of 75 boats.  Here's a YouTube video of JATO's ride to King Harbor- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqQ-grLqGGA

In PHRF Sprit ULDB A class, the J/125 and J/145 had a rough go of it, with one boat heading too low and the other heading too high off on the initial run to Anacapa Island, and then getting too far south (to right of rhumbline) on the way down to King Harbor.  Consequently, Viggo Torbensen's J/125 TIMESHAVER finished 4th in class and Carolyn Parks' J/145 RADIO FLYER took 6th.

The host finishing club, Kings Harbor YC hosted their incredibly delicious "shrimp feast" on Saturday afternoon in conjunction with the awards ceremony (part of the secret recipe- cayenne pepper, olive oil, lemon).  It was a fitting end to a beautiful race on a sunny day overlooking the Pacific Ocean and harbor.
Sailing photo credits- J/Boats and Bronny Daniels @ Joysailing.com.  For more Santa Barbara to King Harbor Race sailing information

Cowes Race Week Preview

(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week is a key part of the British sporting calendar taking place in early August each year. These dates result from early traditions when the great and the good came to Cowes between Goodwood and the Glorious Twelfth – day one of the grouse shooting season. The event is a great mix of competitive sailing and a vibrant social scene and has evolved enormously since the early days; it now attracts up to 1,000 competing boats, around 8,500 competitors and over 100,000 visitors.

Hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Cowes Combined Clubs, the sailors are treated to incredibly challenging, fun sailing; especially when each day dawns with a new course on the famous Solent-- full of capricious currents and shifty, gusty breezes.  The event puts a premium not only on boat-handling and boat-speed, but on the navigational capabilities of the crew to find all the marks and make it back to the extraordinary finish line immediately off the flag deck onshore lined with massive cannons at the Royal Yacht Squadron.

There is a combination of IRC handicap racing as well as a multitude of J/One-design classes participating.  Starting with the one-designs, there will be J/70s, J/80s, J/109s and J/111s sailing.  In the nine boat J/111 class, a number of veteran Cowes regatta and race winners will be present, including SHMOKIN JOE (Duncan McDonald), J-DREAM (David & Kirsty Apthorp), MCFLY (Tony Mack), JEEZ LOUISE (James Arnell) and JITTERBURG (Cornel Riklin).  In addition, new teams participating in Cowes Week include Sebastien de Liedekerke's team from Belgium will be sailing DJINN, ICARUS sailed by Andrew Christie and John Scott, SWEENY skippered by Kees van Vliet from The Netherlands and TOE IN THE WATER led by Capt Lloyd Hamilton MBE.

The J/109s are showing up in force with twenty-three boats, many with new teams aboard sailing their first Cowes Week on 109s.  Amongst the veteran teams that could be a factor include DESIGNSTAR 2 (Roger Phillips), INSPARA (Tor Mclaren), J2EAU (Jean-Yves Tabourot and entered by Williams F-1 Racing Team), JAZZY JELLYFISH (Anthony Eaton), JUMPING JELLYFISH (David Richards), JUMUNU (Jamie Sheldon), JUNO (Ross Walker), JYNNAN TONNYX (Owain Franks and Jean Lockett), ME'JULIE (Hedley Aylott), SARDONYX IX (William Edwards) and STALKER (Steven Tapper).

Fresh of their participation in an enormously difficult J/80 World Championships in Marseilles, France, some teams are still licking their wounds while others have bitten the bullet and are going for it at Cowes Week!  Nevertheless, while entries are down for the J/80s, the thirteen teams are looking forward to some excellent sailing and a number of top teams will be in attendance, including FREDDO (Shaun Priestley), J.A.T. (Chris Taylor), JABBA (Vladimir Phillips), JUICY (Donald Suter), RASCAL (Jamie Diamond), SWALLOW (Chris Body) and WILD WALLY (a family affair with Robert Walters, David Walters and James O'Neill-- J/39 owners).

The field of eight J/70s are certain to see some of the match-ups get heated up again that took place at the J/70 UK Nationals earlier in the year at Cowes.  Certain to be tough sledding for many as virtually all the boats have had their flashes of brilliance over the course of the summer.  Amongst the leaders could be NORTH SAILS (Ruairidh Scott), BOATS.COM (Ian Atkins), TEAM SPITFIRE Powered by SLAM (Wing Commander Simon Ling RAF) and JENGA 8 (Paul & Marie-Claude Heys).  However, since many of the new teams are racing up the learning curve, don't be surprised to see these teams in the front row, including DJANGO (Malcolm Jaques), JUGADOR (Jack Davies), PHEEBS (Simon Cavey) and WILSON COVERS (Ian wilson).

The world of IRC handicap racing will have J teams distributed from IRC 3 Class (J/122s and J/133s) down to IRC 7 Class (the classic J/24s).  Starting at the top, there will be strong competition between the three J/133s and the J/122 duo.  Yves Grosjean's JIVARO, Ian Dewhirst's JUMP and Angus Bates's ASSARAIN IV are all J/133s that have been accustomed to winning offshore and around the cans.  However, the J/122s like JACOBS LADDER and MINT JULEP (David Cule) have also proven they're tough competitors.  The proverbial "fly in the ointment" could be the J/120 EL OCASO, that famous American navy blue boat that eclipsed the Caribbean winter circuit, she will be well sailed by Mike Caldwell and crew.

Yet another J/120, RHAPSODIE V, sailed by the French team led by Jean Jacques Godet will be sailing with a somewhat optimized IRC rating. She'll be challenged by the recent IRC UK Nationals Champion, the J/35 BENGAL MAGIC skippered by James Chalmers-- would be interesting to watch this one from the bleacher seats!

IRC 5 Class is the domain of the champion J/97's and the rest of the 35 foot J's (like the J/110 SHADES OF BLUE sailed Ed Holton) and a veritable armada of J/105's.  Looking into the J/105 ranks you'll find a cadre of offshore and course-racing champions like KING LOUIE (Fiona & Malcolm Thorpe), FAY-J (Stan Fenton) and JOURNEYMAKER V- Chris Jones.  Giving them a run-for-the-roses will be JIN & TONIC (Charles Nicholson and Neil McGrigor), MOSTLY HARMLESS (Natalie Jobling), JACANA (Paul Wood) and JOS OF HAMBLE (Roger Williams).  The J/97's will be well represented by JACKAROO, JIGGERY POKERY (Rob Orr), JET (James & John Owen) and INDULJENCE (Nick & Adam Munday, recent winners in the IRC UK Nationals, too).

Another J/97 configured for a lower IRC rating is sailing in IRC 6 Class- Charles Ivill's ETB TYRES JIGGERY POKERY.  They will be accompanied by some fast J/92s's like past winners WHO'S TO NO (Richard Sparrow) and J'RONIMO (David Greenhalgh).  Also sailing is a the fast, beautiful J/32 cruiser-racer, DOMAINE, skippered by Chris Burbidge.

In the small boat IRC 7 class, two J/24s will be dueling for class honors, including VINYL SOLUTIONS skippered by Simon Lack and JUPITER helmed by Edmund Gatehouse.  Sailing photo credit- Rick Tomlinson.  For more Cowes Week sailing information

J/70s At J/World Annapolis!

(Annapolis, MD)- Attention all J/70 sailors!  J/World Annapolis is anxiously awaiting the delivery of their J/70 (USA 357) this August and are planning events for the boat in 2013 and 2014.  There is a unique opportunity for new and potential J/70 buyers to “try before they buy” while also getting top level racing and boat-handling coaching as well as experiencing the first  J/70 North American Championship this September.

Beginning Monday, September 23, 2013 J/World Annapolis will be conducting a three day training clinic followed by three days of racing in the 2013 J/70 North American Championship.  This six day racing event is patterned after our “super-week” training program and includes on-board coaching for all six days, three days of pre-event multi-boat training, daily video and still image debriefing and nightly discussions with J/70 sailmakers and local racing experts.

This program is perfect for new and prospective J/70 owners for several reasons.  First and foremost, owners quickly maximize their sailing experience by working through the boat-handling gremlins that can plague self taught teams.

Second, the methodology is easily transferred to crews when clients return to their teams - making the owner's programs stronger. J/World believes well-rounded racing education requires cross-training, and our program will put each client into each of the roles onboard.  During practice and the regatta clients will rotate through each of the roles, gaining valuable experience in every position and valuable knowledge that will help them train their own crews.

Finally, because this will be an “owner crewed” event J/World are creating relationships that make racing fun and create important peer-to-peer networks that strengthen the class.

J/World Annapolis have nearly two decades of experience conducting this style of training program in the J/80 and look forward to bringing their experience and training program to the J/70 class.  In addition to the J/70 North Americans they will be conducting this style of program at Key West Race Week, St Petersburg NOOD, Miami Race Week, Charleston Race Week and Annapolis NOODs.

The J/70 North American six day regatta program is $2,495 per person and includes three days of training, three days of racing, event registration, crew gear and lunch each day.  It is exclusive of travel and lodging.

Please contact them if you have an interest in learning how to sail your J/70 faster and better!  Contact is Kristen Berry at ph# 410-280-2040 (Office) or 410-599-3542 (Cell) or email- kristen@jworldannapolis.com

J/105 Rockland-Castine Regatta Champion

(Castine, ME)- Two great days of racing took place this past weekend at the 3rd Annual Rockland Castine Regatta hosted by Rockland Yacht Club.  In all 32 boats made it to the line for the start on both days. There were two cruising classes, three racing classes, a shorthanded division, and a multihull division each sailing a 20 mile course, to and from, Rockland and Castine Harbors.

Day one was the sleigh ride to Castine with a 10 to 20 knot WSW breeze that was reasonably consistent throughout the race.  KEEMAH, the J/105 owned by Don Logan, in racing class two was the second boat to finish.  It was not the day for the big boats as they were never able to catch all the way up to most of the smaller boats.  Day 2 would be another story completely.

Day two started off with a whimper and finished off with a bang.  The weather intelligence provided the race committee with a forecast for some wind although it didn't look like it just after the starting sequence had begun.  A nice 5 knot northerly a filled just outside Castine harbor and the race committee anxiously started the race on time.  However, that wind proved to be a fluke and very light air commenced for the rest of the starting sequence.  Luckily a nice 1 knot+ out-going current kept most of the boats moving towards the goal of Rockland harbor while the whole fleet waited for a southwesterly wind to fill for a great upwind leg back "home".

The wind did fill to about 10 to 15 knots and provided some large oscillations between 200 degrees and 250 degrees during the race.  The boats that hit the shifts just right each time made huge gains, however, if you got caught on the wrong side it was hard to recover.   The shifts only took place every 40 minutes or so, which created a wait and see, patience game.  The out-going current meant that you didn't need to go to a shore but boats would go to each side of the course and create some major leverage of about 1 to 2 miles at times. 

The larger boats were able to catch up with the fleet on day two much better and the first boat to finish was racing class 1 boat, J'AI TU, a J/35 owned by Gary Bennett and skippered by JB Turner.  The J/105 KEEMAH won the overall by 1 minute and 35 seconds. Congratulations to KEEMAH and Don Logan's crew on a second consecutive Overall win of the Rockland Castine Regatta.

On Saturday a party of over 175 sailors took place a Dennet's Wharf restaurant. Which became really interesting when the power went out due to a small squall that went through Castine just after everyone had hit the docks and were cleaned up after racing.  The Dennet's staff was great and kept everything on schedule cooking with head lamps in their kitchen and serving all the sailors on time.  Just about the time dinner was over the power came back on and the band was able provide great music for dancing until the sailors couldn't take it any longer.      

On Sunday a party under the tent of the Rockland green was a perfect end to a great weekend with a full BBQ with burgers, dogs, chicken and all the fixings and some great salads to top off the experience. 

Rising Tide Beer was enjoyed each day with their "Spinnaker" and "Maine Island Trail Ale" brands providing some great refreshment to the crowds of thirsty sailors.   For more Rockland Castine Regatta sailing information

J/70 Weed & Kelp sticks!

(San Diego, CA)- J/70s are sailing in areas notorious for having weed & kelp issues.  Lightweight, quick-to-deploy carbon sticks are often a great answer to the difficult issue of getting weed/kelp off the bottom of the rudder and the keel where the "weed whacker" doesn't reach.  For places like New England, California and lakes like Minnetonka, SD Boatworks has come up with an elegant solution- the J/70 carbon fiber kelp/ weed stick.  Here's a Youtube video of how it works on the rudder and when you lie down on your stomach next to the shrouds, you can use this to also get rid of weed on the bottom of your keel!

Please see:   http://youtu.be/VG9daQGfQc0

If you'd like to get one, please contact Julie Servais at SD Boatworks- ph# 619-592-8682 (office) or 619-632-2444 (cell) or julie@sdboatworks.com.  Their website is http://www.SDBoatworks.com

J/Teams Sailing Copa del Rey

(Palma Mallorca, Spain)- The Copa Del Rey Audi Mapfre is one of the premiere European regattas held every summer in Spain's most famous sailing venue- that glorious mountain island of the international sailing jet set- Palma Mallorca.  Hosted by the gracious members of the Real Club Náutico de Palma, the 38th edition of the event will be sailed from July 27th to August 3rd.

So far the sailors have been challenged by the unusual NE’ly wind direction, with tacticians having to search their memory banks to recall the best strategy for what ultimately proved to be an excellent opening contest for Spain’s showcase annual regatta.  The day started with a gradient northwesterly breeze, between 15 and 16 knots, that gave the race committee the opportunity to hold a fiercely-fought and spectacular race. However, the breeze gradually died in the afternoon as the gradient and the local thermal were canceling each other out.

The J/80 one-design class, always a popular boat at Copa del Rey, has a field of fourteen teams that includes several of the top five J/80 teams at the recent J/80 World Championship in Marseilles, France.  At the top of the list is Hugo Rocha sailing TURISMO DO ALGARVE from Portugal-- the current 2013 J/80 World Champion.  He will certainly be challenged racing in Spanish home waters-- as the local teams include Carlos Martinez on DELTASTONE and Jose Maria Van der Ploeg on FACTOR ENERGIA (the 2012 J/80 World Champion)!

Sailing in the ORC 1 handicap class are the J/122 NOISY OYSTER from France sailed by Olivier Parchet and the J/111 BLACK BULL from Italy skippered by Pietro D'Ali from Yacht Club Italia.  Sailing photo credits- Jesus Renedo/ Sailingstock.com.   For more Audi Mapfre Copa del Rey sailing information

J/Teams Support Leukemia Cup in Chesapeake

J/24, J/70, J/105 and J/PHRF sailors Enjoy Southern Hospitality
(Fishing Bay, VA)- The Southern Chesapeake Leukemia Cup regatta, hosted by Fishing Bay Yacht Club and Stingray Harbor Yacht Club, was held July 13 & 14.  One-design fleets of J/24s, J/70s and J/105s along with two J/109s in PHRF sailed the four race series over two days.  In addition to good sailing the regatta raised more than $85,000 for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

The fleet was blessed with somewhat remarkable conditions considering that the mid-Atlantic region had been baking in extremely hot, muggy conditions for the past few weeks.  For Saturday's racing, the sailing was postponed due to thunderstorms rolling up the bay earlier in the day, but it soon turned out to be a fantastic day for sailing with the wind building from 10 kts to gusts over thirty kts under clear skies towards evening.  Sunday's racing was equally challenging with light, but steady, breezes all day long.

Debuting in the regatta for the first time were the J/70s, with a competitive fleet of five boats.  Taking the class honors was Ron Thompson with a leading tally of 1-2-1-1 for 5 pts.  Behind them was a battle for the podium with three boats, all tied with six pts each after the first day- the two Vortex Racing boats (Vortex and GetMyBoat.com) and Drake Johnstone's CAT'S PAJAMAS.  In the end, VORTEX took second with a 3-3-2-2 for 10 pts and GetMyBoat.com took third with a 2-5-3-3 tally for 13 pts.

The J/24 saw five boats participating.  Showing the fleet their transom most of the time was Neil Ford & Liz Biondi's ROCKET J with a scorching hot scoreline of 1-1-2-1 for 5 pts.  Taking second after a slow start was Scott Collins on KOBAYASHI MARU with a 5-4-1-2 tally for 12 pts.  They narrowly edged out Alan Bomar, who sailed ROUNDABOUT to a 2-2-5-4 score for 13 pts.

In PHRF A, the J/105s and J/109s competed as a fleet.  Taking first in class was Craig Wright's J/109 AFTERTHOUGHT with a dominant 1-1-1-2 record for 5 pts.  Second was the other J/109 DOUBLE EAGLE sailed by Sam Mitchener with a equally consistent 2-2-2-3 scores for 9 pts.  Scored as a Sub-division were the J/105s, with David Clark's CORRYVRECKAN taking top honors.  For more Fishing Bay YC Leukemia Cup sailing information

J/105 Dominates Whidbey Island Week

J/29 SLICK Takes PHRF 4
(Whidbey Island, WA)- Seventy-one teams competed in the 31st annual Whidbey Island Race Week in ten one design and PHRF fleets. Racing was conducted out of Oak Harbor, WA from July 15-19. Renowned for good, fun racing the full week’s vacation of seafood, whale watching, live music, Growler fly-bys and glorious sunsets is often referred to as an "adult summer camp".  Amazingly, Orca killer whales welcomed the fleet on their first morning while the parade of boats exited the harbor!

Managing ten classes during the week, four of them one-design, the CYC-Seattle race committee ran two RC boats, multiple runabouts, and shot off 120 starts in 8-16 knot winds.  In fact, all five days had great sailing conditions with plenty of sunshine and nice wind.

In the J/105 Class, Jerry Diercks’ DELIRIUM won Boat of the Week with 11 straight bullets and solid crew work.  Second in class was Jim Geros's LAST TANGO with a lot of seconds and third in class was Matt Gardner-Brown's DULCINEA.

In the PHRF handicap classes, the top performer was the Mayfield/Nelson duo on the J/29 SLICK winning PHRF 4 counting all 1sts and 2nds in their scoreline, an impressive performance against well-sailed teams.  The J/122 ANAM CARA sailed by Tom Kelly managed 4th in PHRF 1 class.

The four J/35s sailing PHRF 3 had a good series with Brian White's GRACE E taking third and Ernie Chatham's JABIRU taking 4th in class.  Tom Kerr's J/33 CORVO started off the series slowly and wound up with a bunch of 2nds to take 4th in class.

Sailing PHRF 7 was Bill McKinnon's J/80 SKYE ROCKET, posting consistent top five scores to take 4th in their class. Finally, the classic J/24 LUCKY JIM skippered by Jim McAlpine managed to win a few races and take fifth in PHRF 9 class.   Sailing photo credits- Jan Pix   For Whidbey Island Race Week sailing information

J/105 Wins Edgartown Week & Round Is

J/111 Takes Class in Round Island
(Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard) – After notching only eight knots of breeze on opening day (Thursday, July 18), Edgartown Yacht Club’s three-day Race Week cranked into high gear for a subsequent two days of action, loading up 25 teams with 20 knots of breeze for a second day of the event’s Big Boat Buoy Races and giving 62 teams an exhilarating run for their money in 25 knots plus during the 54.7 nautical mile ‘Round-the-Island Race, which was scored separately and comprised the final day of racing (Saturday, July 20).

Due to enormous amount of interest in extending the weekend of sailing, the Edgartown Yacht Club added an extra day to its 2013 Big Boat Buoy Races (BBBR). As a result, the event ran from Wednesday through Sunday (July 17-21) for IRC, PHRF, Double Handed, Cruising and Classic sailboats. After two days of the Big Boat Buoy Races on Thursday and Friday, Mount Gay also sponsored a Friday night “jump-up” celebration before the Round the Island Race on Saturday.

“As more big boats came to Edgartown for the Round the Island Race, the more their crews wanted to enjoy Martha’s Vineyard, and take home more silver,” said Mr Brooks. “The response to our efforts has been electric.“  First held in the summer of 1938, the Edgartown Yacht Club’s Round the Island Race was inspired by a similar race around the Isle of Wight that has been held in Cowes, England every year since 1931. Covering 54.7 miles, it passes over Nantucket Sound, the Atlantic Ocean and Vineyard Sound and by seven lighthouses as it circumnavigates, clockwise, the 100 square miles that make up Martha’s Vineyard.

The distance around Martha’s Vineyard is just a few miles longer than around the Isle of Wight, with similar views of cliffs and headlands, villages and open water. Tidal currents and wind effects are important, and one team that was hoping to defend its title as master of both in the PHRF Spinnaker class was be Richard Egan’s (Osterville, Mass.) aboard his J/46 WINGS, which won its division overall last year.

“The Round-the-Island Race has been a tradition for my family since the ‘70s,” said Egan, whose father used to race and whose wife, two sons, two brothers (with their sons in tow) and a nephew will sail as part of his 11-14 person crew this year.  “We like how it is located chronologically in the middle of the summer sailing schedule.”  Nevertheless, says Egan, it was hard for the working professionals on his crew to get time off from their jobs for the Big Boat Buoy Races, so he decided to team up with his 19-year-old son, Richard Egan III, to take a shot at the first-ever competition for Double-Handed (skipper and one mate) crews.  “We’ll try things for the first time, and hopefully in the end it won’t kill us.  We haven’t done any double-handed sailing with the boat, but this make of boat has been used all over the place for it, so it clearly can be done.”  Those were somewhat prophetic words, as they happened to manage quite well and take the Double-handed crown for the Big Boat Racing!

Sailing the Round Island PHRF 2 Class was the J/120 APRES sailed by Stephen Besse from Vineyard Haven, taking a close second after a closely fought race with Doug Curtiss's J/111 WICKED 2.0.  Here's the report from Mr Curtiss on their adventures racing around the island on their J/111:

"Not only did we secure a first place in PHRF A Class by three minutes corrected in this six hour race, but went toe to toe with the 1D35 for most of the day.  Did I mention some great sailing with gust to 30, and top speed of 18.6 Knots for Wicked 2.0?

The day started well with a spinnaker start and run to the leeward mark of Cape Pogue.  Making the turn South for the reach down the Muskeget Channel between Chappy and Nantucket, we were 2 boat lengths behind the 1D 35.  Wind was a steady 18 to 22.

We separated for most of the reach, but rounding the Sea Buoy and turning to the West, the J/120 APRES came out of nowhere to take the lead.  We were 3 boat lengths behind the 1D 35.  Everyone settled onto the rail for the 2 1/2 hours to the can off Squibnocket.  Slowly, ever so slowly, we reeled in the 1D 35.  Heading into a Southwest ocean swell, with freshening breeze, Ted and then Gary ground em down.  Everyone on the rail was hiking like we were in a buoy race with one last mile to the windward mark-- only this was 19 miles of ocean!  No more than 3 boat lengths had separated us for the fetch down the whole South Shore. When we rounded the Squibby can, we were 20 feet ahead.  We had gained approximately 120 feet in the last 19 miles against our sparring partner.

Both bore away to the Sea Buoy at Devil's  Bridge, Gay Head.  Wind is gusting to 25 with big swells on a reach. 1D 35 used their maneuverability and every trick in their bag to try and get by Wicked 2.0.  Could not pass to windward, so set up on a wave and try to surf by to leeward-- no dice.  Rounding the buoy at Gay Head, still less than a boat length separation.  But we had shortened the course by 25 miles on the 1D 35.

And we needed every second of that handicap, as the 1D 35 took advantage of their downwind speed and took off on the spinnaker run down Vineyard Sound toward the finish line.  Wind was now gusting over 30 with a steady 22 to 26 on the wind gauges.   Both boats playing the adverse tides through Lucas Shoals and Middle Ground.....jibing into the beach to get out of the current and then jibing back out into Vineyard Sound.  A great real estate tour of the north shore of Martha's Vineyard,  but no one was looking in this breeze.  The speedo topped out at 18.6 knots!!!

The J/120 fell back. The 1D35 pulled far ahead with their square top main and big kite.  Then disaster struck the 1D35-- broaching badly with a blown chute, followed by two more knockdowns.

Rounding the can at West Choppy, we killed the kite for the reach to the finish.  Past Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs, we saw the most wind of the day, making 13 and 14 knots on a close reach with full main and number 3 jib.

Wicked 2.0 crossed the finish with corrected time about 3 min ahead of the J/120 and 7 min ahead of the 1D35 after more than 6 hours of memorable racing.

Special thanks to all those on the delivery home after the turn and burn at MVY.  Also to all who helped provision and prep the boat.  And a special nod to those hiking on the rail who got us by the 1D 35 on the South Side. Their driver told me at the awards ceremony, he wished his crew knew how to hike like the Wickeds."

Sailing in Class 3 PHRF in the BBBR and in Class 4 in the Round Island was the J/105 DARK'N'STORMY sailed by Ned Joyce from Buzzards Bay YC. “In the light air, after the first day, we were in last place overall,” said Ned Joyce (Cataumet, Mass.), who won PHRF B class in the Big Boat Buoy Races with his J105 Dark ‘n Stormy, “but in the heavy air we turned in three first-place finishes to win. That’s what we are more used to having on Buzzard’s Bay where we usually sail.” Joyce went on to win his class in the ‘Round-the-Island Race (Sophie dismasted in the ‘Round-the-Island Race but limped home safely), making him one of only two racers to claim victory in both of the weekend’s double-header events.

Rounding out the weekend's performance in the BBBR were a 2nd in Class 2 by the J/109 GUT FEELING sailed by Ted Herlihy and 4th in class by the J/120 APRES (Stephen Besse).  As mentioned, there was a well-deserved first in class by Dick Egan's J/46 WINGS in the Double-handed class.

In the Round Island Race, Class 3 saw the J/44 BALLYHOO (Wesley McMichael) take third and the J/42 PANASEA (Kent Nicholas) take 4th.  Behind DARK'N'STORMY in Class 4 were another J/105- LYRIC sailed by Pete Lebish in third.  Sixth in class was Dick Egan's J/46 WINGS and seventh was the J/109 HAFA AIDA skippered by Eliot Shanabrook of Marblehead YC.  Sailing a very nice race in Class 5 was the J/35c RIVA (Steve Dahill) taking a third overall.  Finally, in Class 8 PHRF Double-handed was the J/42 STARLIGHT sailed by Jil Westcott.   Sailing photo credits- Michael Berwind   For more Edgartown YC Race Week and Round Island sailing information

J/Teams Sail Light Transpac

(Honolulu, Hawaii)- This year's Pacific offshore 2,225nm classic was not one of your typical Transpac's.  While the finish line off Diamond Head Light and the red bell often produce spectacular photos with boats flying down waves in massive plumes of spray under spinnakers in 20-30 kts of breeze over 10-15 foot swells, the rest of the race leading up to this final blast was anything but fast.  With the Pacific High meandering all over the place, expanding, retreating and moving around like a drunken sailor on high heels, the teams knew they were in for a tough race.

The race did start out on a high note, with the small boats leaving Monday on a gorgeous, sunny, windy day.  All boats fetched Catalina Island on two tacks, left it to port and within hours many were sporting spinnakers flying towards Hawaii into stronger, more favorable tradewinds (at least that was the plan).  The second starting group on Thursday had to contend with a freakish Low pressure system that produced ESE winds, with boats taking off on port tack from the starting line with little wind and spinnakers and gybing towards Catalina.  What? Didn't Neptune get the memo?  The brochure says the fleet is supposed to start on starboard, set chutes, blow down the Molokai Channel, get "lei'd" and celebrate arrival with a massive punchy umbrella drink!  It was not to be.  The second fleet starters faired badly in the overall standings as a result of this freak show.  The third and final fleet of turbo's and sleds took off Saturday in more typical conditions-- sunny with a moderate breeze from the NNW, enabling most of the fleet to clear Catalina Island during daylight hours after a tack or two.

Starting in the second start, Tim Fuller's J/125 RESOLUTE still sailed a helluva race, taking 3rd in class and 19th overall.  The J/125 WEST COAST WARRIOR sailed by Greg Constable was doing well until they hit something in the middle of the Pacific and gouged their keel badly, as well as affecting their rudder.  Many boats reported damages or collisions with lots of trees and one boat even had to avoid a partially sunken refrigerator, all largely a result of the tsunami that hit Japan over a year ago.  The J/105 CREATIVE team skippered by Ed Sanford from San Diego, class winners in last year's Pacific Cup, have had a rough go of it this year in the lighter airs.

Meanwhile, of note was that J/WORLD SAILING SCHOOL's 50 footer HULA GIRL again sailed the Transpac and managed a 6th in class.  Led by Wayne Zittel and two coaches plus six J/WORLD students as crew, the old GIRL sailed admirably in the difficult conditions.  Most of the Transpac participants have learned to sail on J/Boats and a few own J/Boats - at least 2 J/105s in this year's crew!  Wayne and the J/WORLD coaches have countless days on the water teaching on J/80s, J/105s, J/120s, J/70s, J/111s and more!   Sailing photo credits- Sharon Green/ UltimateSailing.com/ Transpac YC   For more TransPac Race sailing information